Morocco

Chantiers Sociaux Marocains (CSM) is a non profit NGO, founded in 1963. CSM is a national association, with several sections all around Morocco and considerable international co-operation. CSM is the Moroccan national committee of ICYE International Cultural Youth Exchange. Its a member of several national, regional and international platforms.

Botswana

Xchange Scotland’s partner in Botswana is Botswana Workcamp Association (BWA). BWA is a non-governmental, non profit making voluntary organization registered with the Ministry of Home Affairs in April 1980 under the Societies Act. Its headquarters are in Boseja North ward, Mochudi village, Botswana.

B.W.A is a member of Southern Africa Workcamps Cooperation (SAWC) and affiliated to CCIVS (Co-ordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service), founded in 1948 to assist and promote workcamps worldwide.

Ghana

Volu Ghana has since its inception 55 years ago organized more than 800 work camps throughout the length and breadth of Ghana. The work camps usually last between 14 days and 21 days. For 3-4 weeks this group of volunteers focuses on one project e.g. building of a school, health post or planting trees.

There are also work camps which specialize solely on the intercultural aspect such as drumming and dancing, leadership training, Aids and Hepatitis B Awareness Campaigns. Weekend camps are also organized to allow for those who cannot attend the summer or winter camps to offer their services.

Kenya

Xchange Scotland’s partner in Kenya is KVDA. Last summer, Melanie from Stirling went on an international volunteer project to Kenya:

“The three weeks I spent in Kenya were fantastic, I was based in Nairobi at the KVDA centre. Accomodation suited me as I was in inside and managed to get a bed! Food was actually ok, we took turns at cooking and I learned from the local volunteers how to cook some traditiional Kenyan dishes. Kenyans themselves are the most friendliest and helpful people I have ever come across. They really want to look after you and always lend a helping hand.”

Tanzania

UVIKIUTA is our partner in Tanzania. UVIKIUTA is a Youth development organization established in the year 1983. The organization came to its existence a respond to the challenges facing today’s young people socially and economically.

UVIKIUTA is working towards improving the living standards of the youths by facilitating them to be self employed, having permanent shelters, getting income, improving education and skill so as to be self reliance. UVIKIUTA activities are categorized under income generation, Eco village development and Development education.

Togo

Xchange Scotland’s partner in Togo is Les Amis de la Terre. Les Amis de la Terre is a non-profit, voluntary organization working to protect the environment in Togo and in the world; it also promote volunteerism, international youth exchange and sustainable development. The organization was founded on 20 June 1990.

Uganda

In Uganda, our partner is UVDA. UVDA is a non-political, non-sectarian, indigenously-inspired and oriented voluntary organization geared to work for both local and international peace, welfare and co-operation. In conducting its activities, UVDA encourages its members to have mutual trust, respect for each other and transparency.

Argentina

International volunteering: Subir al Sur organizes Workcamps, Mid and Long term volunteering opportunities and Intercultural meetings in Argentina, in association with our local partners, and sends Argentine volunteers to the rest of the world through our International partners: YAP, the Alliance and CCIVS.

National and regional volunteering (Argentina and Mercosur): Subir al Sur promotes the participation of Argentine young people (especially those with fewer opportunities) as well as young people from neighbouring countries during our workcamps, and organizes volunteer projects to promote regional integration with solidarity and respect.

Canada

Chantiers Jeunesse is a non-profit and non-governmental organization aiming to the development of active and involved young citizen, to support local development and to support the development of the entire potential of the persons. We offer learning and training opportunities in collaboration with partners from here and abroad, based on solidarity and respect of differences.

Haiti, Jamaica, United States of America

VFP is a Vermont non-profit corporation with tax exempt status (501 (c) (3), as determinated by the IRS. We are located in Burlington, Vermont which is the largest city with a population of 40,000. VFP is an Executive Committee member of the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS) at UNESCO and works in cooperation with Service Civil International (SCI), and the Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organizations. The history of International Voluntary Service dates back more than 85 years. Our office staff, Board, Advisory Board and thousands of volunteers in the field help to facilitate these projects. Within the CCIVS network, over 100,000 volunteers are exchanged annually. VFP was founded in 1982 and since then has exchanged over 28,000 volunteers.

Mexico

Xchange Scotland has 2 partners in Mexico – VIMEX and Vive Mexico.

Voluntarios Internacionales Mexico A.C (VIMEX) is a Mexican organization founded on December 4th, 1985. However it began to work in 1982. We have 28 years of experience.

Vive Mexico is a non profit-making, non-governmental organization that has been organizing International Voluntary Service Projects since the year 1996.

Peru

Peru Sonqoykipi is a young organization that develops international voluntary service projects in the city of Ayacucho, Peru, since 3 years ago.

We work mainly with orphan childrens and we have organized more than 40 international projects where more than 250 international volunteers from over 35 countries had participated with around 50 local volunteers.

China and Taiwan

Xchange Scotland’s partner YVA is:

An NGO organizing workcamps and other voluntary projects in Taiwan and Asia the Executive committee of IAVE-IRC (International Association for Volunteer Effort’s International Resource Center, IAVE-IRC) since 2005.

Full Member of NVDA (Network for Voluntary development in Asia) since 2007

Full Member of CCIVS under UNESCO (Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service) since 2008.

Hong Kong

Founded on 16 April 2009, VolTra Hong Kong is a non-governmental and non-profit voluntary organization, which is dedicated to promote international voluntary services in Hong Kong, China through a well-established worldwide network of international workcamp organizations. VolTra is the first and exclusive workcamp organization in Hong Kong to provide workcamp placement service for people living in Hong Kong, Macau and Mainland China and to organize international workcamps in Hong Kong for both local and overseas volunteers to participate in the voluntary services and cultural exchange activities in Hong Kong.

India

Xchange Scotland’s partner in India is FSL India. FSL India (Field Services & Inter-Cultural Learning) was established in India with the support of various international organizations. It is a non-profit, charitable, social and independent Non Governmental Organization (NGO) with the main objective of promoting Global Understanding/Inter-cultural learning and to work for togetherness encouraged on World Peace through Youth Mobility.

Indonesia

DEJAVATO Foundation is an Indonesian organization working for peace, international understanding and solidarity, education, social sustainable development and respect to the culture and environment through international voluntary work, educational and cultural activities. It was established in June 15th, 2005 as a response to a lack of education and social welfare all over Indonesia.

Japan

Xchange Scotland has 2 partners in Japan – NICE and CIEE.

NICE is a Japanese youth organisation founded on the 4th Feb in 1990 by the 7 youth who had done the workcamps or other types of voluntary service programs abroad. In Sep. 1990, the first international workcamp of NICE was held at the foot of the Mt. Fuji of Japan. It has been developing rapidly and variously with huge needs projects & motivations of people!

In 1965 CIEE established an office in Tokyo. As part of the Exchanges division, it promotes a great number of international educational exchange programs. In 1989, CIEE Japan opened an office in the Kyoto International Community House, a primary base of international exchange in the Kansai area. The Fukuoka Office, which serves Southern Japan, opened in 2002. Over the last 40 years, CIEE Japan has developed a wide variety of programs and services for students and teachers at the secondary through university levels and for related constituencies.

Korea

In Korea, our partner is IWO Korea. IWO was founded in 1999 for young people in South Korea shows the wider world with young people in the world can live with the thought and practice has been established to provide them. At home and abroad and international exchange programs, international volunteer through the exit and practiced these goals. IWO is a private non-profit organization registered in Seoul.

Kyrgyztan

In Krygyztan, our partner is an organisation called LEADER. LEADER is a non-profit organization bringing together young volunteers with the mission of involving youth in civil society through volunteerism, project design, and cooperation both locally and internationally. Leadership was founded on November 1, 2005 as a youth volunteer organization under the auspices of the public association Leader, a centre of civic society initiatives.

Mongolia

Mongolia Camps Exchange (MCE) is our partner in Mongolia. Brief History of MCE:

When: MCE was established on January 11th, 2001 by an individual who had participated in the 3rd Training & Networking Workcamp of NVDA in Vietnam.

Why: Before 2000, there were no workcamp organizations or international voluntary service in Mongolia. However, there was much need for international voluntary projects to improve a Mongolian society. Through practical work projects, MCE hopes to encourage public awareness of Mongolia’s social problems and promote local actions.

Nepal

Friendship Foundation Nepal (FFN) are Xchange Scotland’s partner in Nepal. Friendship Foundation Nepal is working to help in development of Nepal through voluntary service, introduce Nepal to the outside world and to deeper co-operation since 1991. We are working together with our partners in different parts of the globe to create better world. We believe that voluntary service is the best way to create better understanding and friendship among world citizens. We welcome friends from all over the world in Nepal. We provide unique volunteer opportunities for you from two weeks workcamps to Middle/Long-Term Voluntary Service for 2-10 months throughout the country.

Palestine

International Palestinian Youth League aims to empower Palestinian youth through non-formal educational programs, intercultural learning, training, media literacy and youth leadership activities. Since its inception, IPYL has implemented hundreds of activities, including international voluntary Workcamps, exchanges, cross-cultural study trips, leadership seminars, think tank groups and community meetings. By undertaking these activities, IPYL has developed strong alliances with a wide network of individuals and organizations. IPYL is running this work camp, for the first time, in partnership with the Palestinian Society for Peace and Development (Al-Amari Refugee Camp- in Ramallah city 12 km north of Jerusalem).

Vietnam

Xchange Scotland’s partner in Vietnam is SJ VIETNAM. Last summer, Katrina from Fife went to Vietnam on project – read about her experiences here.

Solidarités Jeunesses Vietnam (SJ Vietnam) is an international youth NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) that promotes values of solidarity, peace, tolerance through young citizenship projects to improve society during and after the voluntarism. It was set up in 2004 by and for national and international young volunteers. SJ Vietnam is an independent Vietnamese branch of SJ France, a full member of CCVIS (UNESCO) and NVDA, a partner of YAP and Alliance. SJ Vietnam is an independent, non-political and non-religious organization open to everybody without any distinction of nationality, race, philosophy, financial resource, education or sex.

Austria

Xchange Scotland’s partner in Austria is Grenzenlos. Last summer, Xchange Scotland volunteer Victoria from Stirling went on a international volunteer project:

“My international volunteer project was working at a centre for young people with fewer opportunities in Austria. I got alot of support from the other volunteers – even though my project was only 2 weeks, the people that I was with by the end felt like family. I was quite scared before going away as it was the first time that I had been away on my own – so I got alot out of it. I also developed my language skills alot when I was away. I would really recommend going on a project.”

Estonia

Xchange Scotland’s partner in Estonia is EstYES – a non-profit, non-political, non-governmental organization which was established in 1991 with the purpose to promote youth and cultural exchanges for better understanding and a just world. It is a pioneer organization in the field of international voluntary service in Estonia.

Belgium

Compagnons Bâtisseurs is a non-profit organization created in 1977. It is recognized as a youth organization by the ministry from the French Community of Belgium. This association proposes different kinds of voluntary activities to youngsters: work camps in Belgium and abroad (during week ends and during the summer), short, medium and long term voluntary services, leisure activities for and with disabled people. The realisation of these activities would not be possible without the participation of a network of 350 belgian volunteers, 100 volunteers from abroad during summer holidays and team of four employees. The organization is also a member of the Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations.

Czech Republic

INEX – Association for Voluntary Activities – is a non-governmental non-profit organisation founded in 1991 whose primary activities are in the area of international voluntary work. Our main objective is, through international voluntary work, enabling people to help where their help is most needed whilst at the same time making it beneficial for the volunteers in terms of obtaining new life and work experiences which they can use later in their careers.

Denmark

Xchange Scotland’s partner in Denmark is MS Action Aid Denmark. Last summer, Xchange Scotland volunteer Mila from Aberdeen went on a project to Denmark:

“The project was at a daytime centre for women with immigrant backgrounds. Throughout the year, the centre arrange activities, networking opportunities and different kinds of counselling, ranging from legal advice to assistance with job applications. Two days each week, volunteers are responsible for planning activities at the centre – these activities could include sports, creative projects, cooking food from different cultures etc… The activities were planned on arrival and depended on the participants’ skills and ideas.”

Finland

Our partner organisation in Finland is Alliansi. Allianssi Youth Exchanges works for intercultural learning and global understanding. They are a youth exchange organizer providing young Finns opportunities abroad. They believe in “learning by doing”. Their range of programs varies from work experience programs such as work and travel to voluntary work programs and other worldwide work opportunities.

France

We have 4 partner organisations in France – Jeunesse et Reconstruction, UNAREC, Solidarites Jeunesse and Concordia France. Xchange Scotland volunteer David, from St Andrews went on an environmental project to France last summer:

“The main thing I got out of the whole experience was friendship with people from countries around the world. After going on this project, the world now seems more of a unity – through the language and cultural uniqueness I saw that really everybody was just like me and people from my country.”

Germany

In Germany. Xchange Scotland has 3 partner organisations – IJGD, VJF and IBG. Xchange Scotland volunteer Nicola from Aberdeen went away on a project to Germany last summer:

“My Xchange Scotland project was being part of a team working at a summercamp for German young people. The centre of the camp was a big circus tent which hosted different activities. The work was varied and interesting and I felt that it made a worthy impact on the young people on the project”

Greece

Xchange Scotland’s partner in Greece are C.i.A. This is nothing to do with American criminal agencies – rather C.i.A. stands for Citizens in Action. Citizens in Action was created in 2002 and is a non-profit, non-governmental, youth organisation based in Athens. To achieve its aims, C.i.A invites its members to practical action, with emphasis on youth voluntary work, youth mobility and communication, international exchanges and non-formal education.

Iceland

SEEDS and Worldwide Friends are the two partner organisations of Xchange Scotland in Iceland. Last summer, Clara from Aviemore went on a project to Iceland:

“The international volunteer project that I went on was an environmental project in the south of Iceland. I was part of a group working for a worthwhile organisation there. The main thing I got out of the whole experience was a sense that I had made a contribution to Iceland’s future landscapes. After going on this project, the world now seems like a place I would like to explore more of.”

Germany

In Germany. Xchange Scotland has 3 partner organisations – IJGD, VJF and IBG. Xchange Scotland volunteer Nicola from Aberdeen went away on a project to Germany last summer:

“My Xchange Scotland project was being part of a team working at a summercamp for German young people. The centre of the camp was a big circus tent which hosted different activities. The work was varied and interesting and I felt that it made a worthy impact on the young people on the project”

Italy

In Italy, our partner organisations are Legambiente, Lunaria and YAP Italia. All 3 organisations have fantastic experience of decades of arranging international volunteer projects in various areas of Italy.

Lithuania

CYVA Deineta is an independent non-political voluntary service organization established in 1988. CYVA Deineta is coordinating, sending and hosting organization of EVS projects and short term summer international volunteer projects.

Moldova

The organisation ADVIT (“Europe Without Borders”/ICYE MOLDOVA) was founded in 2002, became a registered non-profit NGO in 2004, and in 2007 joined the ICYE Federation. Its main office is in the capital Chisinau. Most of the host placements are in the social care field. These include working in orphanages for children or young people with/without learning difficulties or disabilities, helping refugees, victims of trafficking and domestic violence. Xchange Scotland has a volunteer, Lindsey from Stirlingshire, on a long-term project in Moldova – working for an organisation supporting victims of torture.

Poland

FIYE is a vibrant Polish non-governmental and non-profit organisation. Ever since it was established in 1989, FIYE has been active in the field of voluntary service and particularly committed to international youth exchange programmes. Throughout the years, FIYE has developed and successfully carried out a considerable number of volunteer projects with special regard to short-term summer projects (workcamps) and long-term programmes lasting 6-12 months

Serbia

Voluntary Service of Serbia (VSS) is a volunteer exchange service center founded in 1990 as one of the sectors of Young Researches of Serbia (YRS). Today VSS is volunteer exchange reference point for this part of Europe, having most experience and the highest number of organised programmes and exchanged volunteers. In 2008 almost 600 volunteers from Serbia participated in international voluntary workcamps all around the world. This is quite a good video about a volunteer experience in Serbia.

Slovakia

INEX Slovakia is a non-profit, non-governmental organization founded in 1993. Its main aim is to play an active role within the international youth exchange that promotes international understanding, intercultural learning and tolerance. INEX Slovakia organizes activities that are focused on youth mobility and non-formal education and international volunteering. We organize different voluntary activities like international voluntary workcamps, trainings, seminars, various activities on national level, regular meetings of non-formal groups, workshops, activities for children with difficult background. Last year, Xchange Scotland sent Sophia from Glasgow on a project to Slovakia.

Spain

Our partner in Spain is COCAT in Catalunya. They are a fantastic, well-founded member of the Alliance network – with a particular focus on sustainability and access for all. Marta from Aberdeen went through Xchange Scotland to one of their international volunteer projects last summer:

“The main thing I got out of the whole experience was having fun, helping with the festival and interacting with other people. After going on this project, the world now seems more colourful.”

Switzerland

Our partner in Switzerland is called Workcamp Switzerland. Workcamp Switzerland is a young and dynamic association with lots of ideas. And Workcamp Switzerland is a young team with a lot of motivation. Executive directors are Simone Thommen Awe and Ruedi Roth. They are responsible for project planning, placing volunteers, public relations and sponsoring.

Ukraine

Xchange Scotland has 2 partners in Ukraine – Alternative V and Union Forum. Ukrainian Association for Youth Co-operation “Alternative-V” – is a non-political, non-profit public organisation, founded on the basis of volunteerism in 1992. Union Forum is a non-political, non-governmental, non-profit youth organisation founded in 1990 in Lviv. Its goals are to provide the opportunity for young people of different nationalities, backgrounds and cultures, to come together to overcome differences while undertaking a worthwhile task.